Category:Submarines

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. Although experimental submarines had been built before, submarine design took off during the 19th century, and they were adopted by several navies. Submarines were first widely used during World War I (1914–1918), and now figure in many navies large and small. Military uses include attacking enemy surface ships (merchant and military), attacking other submarines, aircraft carrier protection, blockade running and reconnaissance.

The navy best known to use submarines during the 2nd world war is Germany, although other navies had submarines relatively in high amount such as the IJN whom possess midget submarines, medium-range submarines, purpose-built supply submarines and long-range fleet submarines. They also had submarines with the highest submerged speeds during World War II (I-201-class submarines) and submarines that could carry multiple aircraft (I-400-class submarines). They were also equipped with one of the most advanced torpedoes of the conflict, the oxygen-propelled Type 95. Nevertheless, despite their technical prowess, Japan chose to utilize its submarines for fleet warfare, and consequently were relatively unsuccessful, as warships were fast, maneuverable and well-defended compared to merchant ships.

The USN used submarines similar to the IJN in the Pacific which, though only about 2 percent of the U.S. Navy, destroyed over 30 percent of the Japanese Navy, including 8 aircraft carriers, 1 battleship and 11 cruisers. US submarines also destroyed over 60 percent of the Japanese merchant fleet, crippling Japan's ability to supply its military forces and industrial war effort.

The Royal Navy Submarine Service was used primarily in the classic Axis blockade. Its major operating areas were around Norway, in the Mediterranean (against the Axis supply routes to North Africa), and in the Far East. In that war, British submarines sank 2 million tons of enemy shipping and 57 major warships, the latter including 35 submarines. Among these is the only documented instance of a submarine sinking another submarine while both were submerged.

Usage in Azur Lane

In Azur Lane, submarines function as support type ships, which unlike the other ship classes are not controllable by the player. Furthermore they have the following quirks:

Submarines can only be deployed on X-4 of each world (world 3 and onward), X-3 of each world (chapter 8 and onward), X-2 (chapter 10 and onward), X-1 (chapter 11 and onward), SOS Rescue Missions, and event stages.

They have a limited hunting range, as shown by a red grid on the stage map.

If an enemy fleet is present within their hunting range, they'll slowly move to it and attack it after you move your fleet. Damage is vary by your submarine's overall strength. This consumes their ammo supply.

They can support your fleet during combat should you battle within their hunting range, and can be summoned in battle with the submarine attack button. Summoning them consumes their ammo supply and fuel dictated by their fuel cost.

Once summoned they'll attack all present enemies until they run out of oxygen and are forced to resurface and eventually retreat.

Submarines have a certain amount of oxygen supply, which once runs out they'll resurface and become vulnerable to attacks. They can still fight back using the DD guns equipped to them.